division
clamoured for.

Its result profound surprise. So far from Government lacking support, the
amendment was negatived by more than two to one. Majority rushed up to 140.

Evidently been a mistake somewhere.

_Business done._--Supplementary votes agreed to.

_Thursday._--Dramatic turn in position of Home Rule Bill. PREMIER hitherto
steadfast in deferring Second Reading till close of financial year. As
result of confabulation between two Front Benches arranged that
Supplementary Estimates shall be hurried up so as to make opening for
immediate debate on Second Reading.

Accordingly ST. AUGUSTINE BIRRELL to-day brought in Bill for First Reading.
No need of persuasion of silver tongue to carry this stage. Proceeding
purely formal. Fight opens on Monday, when PREMIER, moving Second Reading,
will explain his "suggestions" of amendment.

_Business done._--Home Rule brought in, being third time of asking. Welsh
Church Disestablishment Bill and Plural Voting Bill also read amid
vociferous cheering by Ministerialists.

* * * * *

[Illustration: "I understand you have only one Welsh saint. Well, there'll
soon be another; it will be Saint Lloyd George. I would canonise him right
away."--_The Rev. Dr. CLIFFORD at Westbourne Park Chapel._]

* * * * *

"His brilliant flashes of wit and humour evoked hearty applause, and
sometimes even laughter."--_Teesdale Mercury._

Almost the last thing you would have expected.

* * * * *

"One of the strongest traits in Mrs. Barclay's character is a love of
all creatures, great and small--thrushes, wagtails and robins come to
her when she calls, and she keeps a little box of worms to feed
them."--_Woman at Home._

Sometimes the worms must wish she wasn't quite so loving.

* * * * *

THE DOWNWARD TREND.

Come, Nora, Nance and Nellie,
Let us study BOTTICELLI
When we feel the gnawing craving to be smart;
If we want to be _de rigueur_
We must educate the figure
To show the downward trend of "plastic art."
The outline should be slack,
Slippy-sloppy, front and back,
Till bodice, skirt and tunic--every stitch--
Seems to call for the support
Of the handy-man's resort--
That naval gesture termed the "double hitch."
The shoulders must be drooping.
The knees a trifle stooping,